Covers draw me to a book, but story is what holds me. Much as I hate that old adage about having a couple lines (if you're lucky) to entice a reader, in my case, it's absolutely true. I read the first few lines to see if I like the author's voice - and frequently, that's as important to me (if not more so) than the back cover blurb. But the cover is what gets me to pick up the book if it's an author I don't know.

As for subject matter...I don't have a preference for the amount of skin showing or the gender showing it. What I love about Flyboy isn't just the hot guy, but the artful way the cover is done. The same subject approached different ways = different results and if that cover had been "staged" differently it might not have drawn me in. But whoa...graphic design is something I do by day and the team that put this cover together really got it right.

Can't wait to read it, Karen! :)  

Cari

Visit my blog...http://writemedeadly.blogspot.com/

I don't mind having a heroine and/or a hero on the cover as long as its tasteful . I won't usually buy a bodice-ripper cover, only because of what I've experienced in the past with those. If the cover looks intriguing, or just extra-ordinary fantastic, I will buy it! It is, however, a let down when the story isn't up to par of the cover. But when they are both ace, you know you have a real treasure!

Wendy

And also, I whole heartedly agree with you Karen!

That cover is yummmmmmmmmy ! I keep scrolling down to look at him. I just want to run my fingers over those abs.....

Now if we could only pull away those aviater glasses to see his eyes.... :)

Karen,  that cover is HOT!  I have to agree with everyone who's said that covers do a good job of catching my eye, but they don't make or break the book inside.  And I'll definitely read books with less than exciting covers if they're recommended by someone I trust.  But yes, some covers do make me very curious/interested to read the story behind them!  Lately I've noticed more of the hunks by themselves covers, and I do love the eye-candy ;)

That's a awesome cover!! I like covers that have the h/h on them. But I will pick up anything if it sounds good.

I prefer books with just the hero on the cover!! I tend to like to picture the girl however I can in my mind, but hey a nice visual to go along with the hero's description is just fine :-)

 that being said i also like covers with no people in them, especially on christmas romances and such...but for blaze, yeah..i think a nice pic of the hero works great...the more skin the better ;-)

mmm..I tend to pick books up in the store by looking at their covers, then I read the description and when it turns out to sound as good as it looks I buy it...although the blaze books are sort of an auto buy for me each month, but as for the other books I buy that's how I usually do it.

 i can't wait to read flyboy...and it's got one hell of a ..cover to it too!

 the cover of pick me up is great too, yeah....that's why for the books that came out in august for blaze I read that one first...that's one sexy cowboy. i just wish lauren and brett were a whole series of books!! hint hint hint to sam!!

I knew it was too good to be true, but thanks for the little heart hiccup just the same, Karen! :)

Doesn't matter if both the H/h are on the cover to me, but the more skin the better, that for sure!  Like one of the other posters said, I pretty much buy all the Blazes each month regardless of story or cover, but in other lines, I usually pick up a book for it's cover.  The back and the excerpt on the first page are what will sell me though.

Seriously, Karen, this is on of the hottest covers EVER!!  I love Shadow Hawk, too, and I sometimes pull it out for inspiration as I'm writing my wannabe Blaze.

Jeez, I could go on all day talking about cover hotties!  Thanks for bringing it up!! :)

Karen, the cover of Flyboy is awesome!! I can see why you love it so much. Covers definitely matter, but a great story is most important to me. I am looking forward to reading yours--please enter me in your contest!!! Best of luck on your release.

Marie

They do influence my buying decisions but I try not to let them. A cover with a hot half naked men is a magnet to me lol The covers blaze has been coming out with have been amazing. They really make me want to buy them and drool. 

Ashley

I love the cover! I mainly like a cover with the hero on it but don't mind it if there both on as long as they look hot together. I also don't mind seeing alot of skin, usually good abs draws me to the cover. A hot cover on a book will help me to pick up a book and read the back cover to see if it is anything I would be tempted to read if it was by an author that I have never heard of.

I seem to be drawn to couple covers.  I loved the cover for Stephanie Tyler's "Risking It All" and my personal favorite, hands down, is the cover for Kathleen O'Reilly's "Beyond Breathless".  Holy cow.  Hot flash.  ;)

Margaret 

it is one of the hottest cover. u go t very lucky.

I remember when you guest blogged earlier this year.  At that time, I told myself to pick up your book because your blog was so interesting. 

Let me just say your cover does NOT disappoint.  Yowza!!

I am attracted to a yummy cover.  I'm old; not dead.  So woo hooo for eye candy.  BUT if the back cover doesn't interest me I will sometimes put the book back.  Not always.  If I have a few extra bucks, an enticing cover will be enough to get me to put my money where my (drooling) mouth is.

Your book wins on both counts!

I can't wait!!

ani

Hi Karen, Although I'd love a date with the cover model for Fly Boy, looking like he does, I'm sure he's already taken. LOL. You definitely got our attention.

I'm ordering your book next week so, please don't put my name in for the drawing for your book. I'll have it in my hands in just 3 weeks, and I can't wait to read it. I hope that Fly Boy is a big success for you and that the cover sells lots and lots of books for you.

Have a great week. All the best, Mads:) 

Covers attract me to a book. Then the story has to keep my attention.  When I was much younger I may have purchased books based on how I love the cover but after having been burned a couple of times I have learned caution.  

I hardly ever buy a book because of its cover. So many of them are the same thing over and over again. I rely on who the author is and friends recommendations.

I love a hot cover but it is the story that sells me.  I also like my cover art to match the h/h in the book.  Nothing is worse than a blond hero with a dark haired hero on the cover.

I can't wait for your book to come out!

Okay, I couldn't resist. I really couldn't. I had to register and everything just so I could say, that cover is HOT!

And, oh boy, he's got a rocket in his pocket!

I love good covers, a little peek of a happy trail is my favorite. Anything done well, just the hero, both h/h, or something else entirely does catch my eye. But, a cover with some thought, like this one, which brings to mind all sorts of ideas about rockets (tee-hee), intrigues me.

That said, I don't usually buy it based solely on the cover, but it does get me to pick it up. There are exceptions--like, the cover on this very page, "Men at Work." I picked that one up simply because of that tool belt! But that's rare for me. I have plenty of books that I love with horrible covers.

One last thought. A lot of the covers have gotten much better, like someone else posted, Harlequin has had really good ones. But, I really, really don't like the CGI looking ones, with the 3-D wireframe, computer game look. You see these alot with e-books.

It's all about what's in between the covers, or the sheets!

--Lori (aka Ella Drake)

Wow, that's an awesome cover on Flyboy! :D

I like covers with just the hero or of the two of them. Not really picky :) Skin can make me pick up a book I'll admit lol Like on the side bar, I'd say my least favorite cover (sorry!) would be BACK TO MR AND MRS. Its too cutesy to me.

 ~Lis

Flyboy is an RT TOP PICK for October!!!! This is huge, and it's your first book -- congrats Karen!!!

Sam

 Covers definitely influence my buying, because it's the first thing that catches my eye.  I love nothing more than a good cover - and Karen, yours is fabulous!  Can't wait to read Flyboy!!!

And I don't mind a little skin - but if it's too in your face, then I draw the line.  Gimme sexy, show a little skin, ooh la la.  ;)

~ Karen Erickson

http://karenwritesromance.com